LinQ (plus 15 Change and N31 Axed)

Saturday 7th September sees the launch of an unusual route by Stagecoach in Hull, the 'LinQ'. It's not just the name that makes it unusual, but when it operates, Saturday evenings only, and the frequency, up to every 10 minutes - a greater frequency than any other evening service in Hull I think. .

Between 1800 and 2100 the LinQ will operate a 10 minute frequency on a clockwise loop from Clough Road Mecca Bingo via Holwell Road, Sutton Road, Cavendish Road, Ings Road, Holderness Road, Witham, George Street, Alfred Gelder Street, Carr Lane, Ferensway, Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue.

From 2130 the loop becomes anti-clockwise, with departures from Clough Road every 10 minutes until 2300, followed by three part-route journeys to Alfred Gelder Street at 2310, 2320 and 2330. There are then 3 more anti-clockwise loops departing Clough Road at 2350, 0040 and 0130.

I'm wondering if Stagecoach have received some funding for this service as an attempt to connect many key locations in Hull's evening/night life economy? From Stagecoach's perspective I would have thought however it would make more sense to strengthen Saturday evening frequencies on existing routes such as the 15 along Princes Avenue and Newland Avenue, and the 51 along Holderness Road and Ings Road. Both routes also serve Kingswood, another important leisure destination. It will be very interesting to see how the LinQ performs.

While on the subject of evening services, the 15 (Hull-Orchard Park-Kingswood) will divert via George Street, Wilberforce Drive and Alfred Gelder Street on all inbound journeys after 1800 from Monday 2nd September. Again I presume this is about better serving evening leisure destinations, with plenty of bars and clubs in the Old Town area of the city centre around George Street and Alfred Gelder Street.

Stagecoach have also axed the N31 nightbus - it last operated in the early hours of this morning (the night of Saturday 31st August). The service had latterly operated on Saturday nights only, operating from Hull Old Town to North Bransholme via Holderness Road, Summergangs Road, Gillshill Road, Sutton Road, Holwell Road, Barnstaple Road, Wawne Road and Noddle Hill Way. The new LinQ service provides a partial replacement for Holderness Road and Sutton Road.